Hunter found dead in Somersworth woods early Monday

SOMERSWORTH -; Although his identity is being withheld until family is notified, a 64-year-old hunter was found dead in the woods north of Blackwater Road early this morning.

Police, firefighters and emergency personnel responded around 10:30 p.m. after a ';concerned family member'; called authorities about the man who left a friend';s home to hunt deer, according to Capt. Russell Timmons.

"As soon as we received the notification, we responded to the area and found the vehicle," Timmons said, adding police called N.H. Fish & Game for assistance after officers located the vehicle, which matched the description.

Timmons said four conservation officers and a lieutenant from Fish & Game responded to the scene around midnight to organize the search, which involved members of Fish & Game, Somersworth police and firefighters from Somersworth and Rochester.

Fish & Game Lt. Jim Juneau said the search began around 12:15 a.m. and they were able to locate the man about 850 feet from his vehicle and about 600 feet from the road by 1:03 a.m.

"We treat every search as an emergency," Juneau said, adding they were especially concerned the man could have suffered from hypothermia or another injury.

Juneau said the man appeared to be prepared for the elements as he was dressed in typical outerwear for hunters. While he carried a muzzle-loading handgun, he added the man did not appear to be shot or otherwise injured.

In a case of untimely deaths, it is standard procedure for the N.H. Medical Examiner to be notified, Juneau said.

Timmons said the death doesn';t appear suspicious, but police have already begun to investigate the matter. He added police are withholding the identity of the man until his family can be notified.